Talking to Celebuzz, Alexis touches on her issues with former friend turned arch-nemesis Peggy Tanous, her thoughts on Russell Armstrong’s tragic death – yes she has opinions, as well as her business endeavors – no she has yet to give up on her clothing line! Below are excerpts from Alexis’ interview –

Late last year, Peggy announced that she is leaving the show. Was it a relief for you to hear that?It’s so hard, because one day, I wake up and I’m thinking, “What happened? Where did our friendship go wrong? Why did we end up where we are?” And then the next day, I wake up and I’ve seen an episode of how terrible she was [to me], or I remember something that happened and how it was such a shady friendship the minute she got the show, [which] makes me [think] “Oh my gosh, I’m so glad she’s off [the show].” But right now, at this exact moment … I don’t put a lot of emphasis on thinking about her. If she was there and she was a part of the show, great. If she’s not, great. I wish her well. In the first two episodes, you’re gonna see her and I get into it, and it’s gonna probably be the last time you’ll see us interact together.

Do you think your friendship can be salvaged?I always hope that a friendship can be salvaged, just because I’m kind of a dreamer; I like to think the positive in everything. But at this point, I honestly don’t know. I think there’s been a lot of things that have occurred over the past year and a half, and I just saw a side of Peggy that – I mean, for her to be able to flip that quickly, like, the minute that she became a member of the show, to just switch and go become good friends with Tamra [Barney], and forget about me. I mean, it was like she was all about the limelight and not really thinking about a true friendship.

Did your perception of Real Housewives change amid the Russell Armstrong tragedy?I mean, that is just something that you just – I mean, it took my breath away! I can’t picture something like that happening. I am sure the show played a little bit in it, just because your life is exemplified in front of millions [of viewers], and things can be said about you that aren’t necessarily true. Once it’s out there, people believe it whether it’s true or not … But I think, at the end of the day, you have to remember, it’s a show, you’re here to entertain people. Don’t take it too personally. I think that him and Taylor, obviously, had a lot going on, and I just wish it would have had a different ending, you know? You always think, “What if?” And for Taylor, it feels that way.

Tell us about the new Housewife, Heather. Did you all get along with her?Well, I think that, at the end of the day, when it’s all said and done and the season plays out, I think we’re all gonna kind of get along with her. Her and Gretchen [Rossi] had a little bit of a tiff at the beginning. Then, Heather and I get into it a little bit in the middle, and then we have a big blow-up in episode 10-ish. So, once that was all said and done, I felt like Heather and I moved past it and pushed everything aside. I can’t really tell you what it’s about, but I break down in tears and have eyelashes falling off. It’s just a nightmare. It’s not going to be a pretty episode for me [Laughs] … I think Heather is a little buttoned up. Sometimes, she talks like she knows more about things than other people. But, at the end of the day, I think that she’s a really, really sweet person, and I really genuinely like her personality.

So, tell us a little bit more about the second line of Alexis Couture.It is so crazy! Well, I have two lines. I have Alexis Couture, by myself, where I don’t have anyone else working on that with me, except for my production manager … I only have three dresses in that line, because I launched my first dress, the Black-Braid Maxi, last season, and it went like crazy. I sold more of that one dress than all of the dresses than Alexis by Tal Sheyn sold. That dress is still selling, and I’m gonna bring it out in another color … And then I partnered with Tal Sheyn for Alexis by Tal Sheyn, because she was designing one-of-a-kinds for me, and I had a vision for what I wanted to do. There’s only one of me, and I couldn’t do it! So, together with her, we came up with my first Alexis by Tal Sheyn line. That one did really, really well. Now, we’re launching my second one, and now my second one is doing better than my first one even did and it hasn’t even launched yet! We’re out there marketing it. It hasn’t launched on the show, but it is just crazy! It’s so exciting!

Is the goal to eventually open up your own store?We just started looking for retail spaces to have a showroom. We are in boutiques now. We’re in one in Orange County, and we’ve almost solidified two or three in Los Angeles. And then we’re even looking at go overseas. Israel is very interested; Australia is very interested. We have a lot of customers from Europe. We’re just getting our feet into those markets and we’re gonna be in boutiques throughout the United States and throughout the world.

Alexis shared some new photos from her Alexis Couture clothing line, and those are below!

In other Alexis news, she is also sharing the secrets to her very happy marriage in an interview with Radar Online, because clearly, we all aspire to have a happy marriage like hers!

Alexis, who shares a previous failed marriage with hubby Jim Bellino, advises couples should never spend more than two nights apart, treat each other with respect at all times, and not call each other names when arguing. “No matter how mad you get… you cannot take your words back,” says Alexis.

In addition to having 20-minute meetings each night after dinner to catch up, Alexis reveals her and Jim always pray together, go to therapy regularly and have a date night at least once a week.

And finally, a new episode of the OC Housewives airs tonight on Bravo! On the 2nd episode this season titled “Southern Hospitality,” Vicki hosts a dinner party, but Peggy and Alexis stir the pot with a fiery feud. Drama is at such a high boil that Peggy ends up making a game-changing decision. Meanwhile, Gretchen poses nude at a charity photo shoot; newbie housewife Heather Dubrow flaunts her privileged life; Vicki and Tamra embark on an overnight trip to Catalina.

The episode airs tonight on Bravo at 9/8c and a preview clip is below!

[Credit: FayesVision/WENN.com]

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON ALEXIS’ INTERVIEW? WOULD YOU TAKE MARRIAGE TIPS FROM HER? AND THOUGHTS ON TONIGHT’S NEW EPISODE?

CLICK THE CONTINUE READING BUTTON FOR NEW PHOTOS FROM ALEXIS’ CLOTHING LINE & THE PREVIEW!

In a new interview with Celebuzz, the 34-year-old Alexis discusses her relationship with her fellow housewives costars today, her Alexis Couture fashion line, having to grow a “thick skin” for her second season, and most importantly, having to deal with the backlash from being on the show. Excerpts are below –

On the show, you have the Alexis Couture fashion line. How is that going?It’s going great! The episode you guys get to see it on has the photo shoot for it, so you’ll get to see the different styles. I also wear stuff on the show. I followed something that I was passion about and got someone on board with me, so I made it happen.

What three words would you use to describe your own personal style?Trendy, edgy, and girly. Very Sex & the City.

You’ve been on the show now for a couple of years. It what ways has your life changed since starting the show?It’s changed a lot in the fact that when I first came on the show I was kind of naïve and thought I was going to be friends with everybody. After a season of seeing everyone’s true colors and seeing how reality television works, it put a bit of a twist for the second year. You second guess yourself more because you think about how other people will perceive it. I’ve also just decided that I need to take more risks. I was very timid and scared to be confrontational during the first year. I was worried about what America would think, but I realized people are going to have different opinions.

What is your relationship with the rest of the housewives like right now?It’s sad because I thought with Peggy coming on we would be able to survive and get back to the friendship. We’re not really on good terms as of right now, but I’m still hopeful that something might change or that we can have a discussion and start over. I miss my friend. With Tamra, I’m just shocked at what comes out of her mouth. I was hopeful that Vicki and I could start again, but I’m hurt. I hope we can put the past behind us.

How do you deal with the negativity in the press?I don’t even read what is in the press. I stay out of it because I know that no matter what, people are going to say negative things. If someone tells me they read something, I’m hurt at first, but I think my skin is a lot thicker this year.

Is there any other housewife from a different franchise that you identify with?I don’t know if I identify with them, but there are definitely other ‘housewives’ I like. The group is kind of like a sorority. I like Kyle from Beverly Hills a lot because I think she is real. I think I can relate to her.

You already have three children, so are you planning on having any more kids anytime soon?You know, I’d love to have another little boy. My husband is absolutely done, though. I’m hopeful maybe in a couple of years he’d like to adopt.

And when it comes to the revelation on the most recent episode thatTamra Barneyand Fernanda Rochashared a bathroom kiss while Tamra was still with husband Simon Barney, Alexis makes it clear she is not Team Tamra. Below is what Alexis had to say about Tammy Sue’s cheating in her Bravo blog –

“Oh boy, then we get to the scene with Fernanda and Lynne. Who else was shocked to hear Tamra and Fernanda kissed last year at Tamra’s birthday while Tamra was still married? Why am I shocked though? Cheating is cheating, whether it’s with a girl or a boy. That was a chin-dropper! And once again, I feel Tamra has pointed fingers and blamed others for her own actions. She claims Gretchen cheated and was this horrible girlfriend to Jeff, yet it seems Tamra did the same thing she was accusing Gretchen of. Also, getting a little deeper, Tamra just accused me of not owning the foreclosure rumor (which was never true as we sold our home), but she is not owning kissing this other woman?”

Oddly enough, Alexis’s first husband Jeff Barryaccused her of having an affair with a wealthy father of three she met at the gym during their marriage. According to an interview Jeff gave two years ago, he and Alexis moved to San Diego shortly after their 2002 wedding. “We were young and didn’t have a lot of money.” says Jeff. “Then Alexis…started hanging out with trust fund babies. Having the right pair of expensive jeans became important to her.”

Jeff stated he pretended to be a friend of Alexis’s and started emailing her under false pretenses. His suspicions were then confirmed that Alexis was indeed sleeping with the married wealthy man. Coughs, this might explain why good ol Jim doesn’t trust like Alexis going anywhere without him, coughs.

The Missouri college sweethearts separated in 2003 after just 15 months of marriage and the divorce was finalized in June 2004. You can click here to read more on Alexis’s first marriage and divorce.

As forGretchen Rossi, she seemed to skim over the revelation of Tamra’s cheating in her Bravo blog, perhaps not wanting her own skeletons to come out again. “All I have to say is wow regarding the scene with Fernanda! Drama! An affair possibly took place? If Fernanda’s partner didn’t know, I wonder if Simon ever knew?” were Gretchen’s only comments about the kiss. Well played Gretch.